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Learner drivers in Britain are facing average wait times of 20 weeks to book a driving test, according to the latest figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
The data for August shows only a slight improvement from July, when the average wait stood at 20.2 weeks, while the wait time between securing a booking and taking the practical exam remains stalled at 11.1 weeks.
Official targets to slash test delays have repeatedly missed the mark. The DVSA originally pledged to bring average waiting times down to seven weeks by the end of last year.
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander later delayed that deadline to summer 2026, before eventually conceding that even that target was unachievable.
Targets to cut down waiting times have been missed repeatedly (Steve Fowler)
In a statement published online, DVSA chief executive Beverley Warmington stressed that reducing waiting times remains a top priority, before acknowledging the scale of the challenge.
She said: “I’m not going to pretend this can be fixed overnight. Waiting times remain too long in many parts of Great Britain.
“But DVSA is working hard to improve the situation as quickly as possible.”
The persistent backlog follows widespread reports of people using automated software to hoard test slots and reselling £62 bookings on the black market for upwards of £500 to desperate candidates.
Under the revised rules, only learner drivers can book or manage a practical test, barring instructors and third-party companies from using candidate details.
The DVSA has actioned several measures to reduce waiting times for driving tests (PA Archive)
Learners have also been limited to booking tests at their three nearest local centres to prevent candidates from taking slots across the country.
Alongside these measures, strict limits were placed on the number of times a candidate can swap or change their scheduled test date.
But in spite of the backlog, the DVSA confirmed that more than 2.13 million practical tests were conducted in the 12 months leading up to August 2026 — the highest rolling annual total on record.
“There’s more to do and we’re not going to stop until every learner can get a fair test slot when they need one,” said Ms Warmington.
“Today’s figures show our plan is working,” she added.